Social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), says he will not submit to the police the evidence supporting his allegation that some security personnel facilitate kidnapping and banditry in Nigeria.
Otse made the declaration on Thursday while reacting to an invitation from the Nigeria Police Force to substantiate his claims. He said he was prepared to honour the invitation but would prefer to present his evidence in court.
“I’m not going to be giving the police my evidence. Why would I do that? I would be charged to court, and I would turn down the evidence in court,” he said in a video posted on his Instagram page.
The police had invited Otse to provide evidence for his allegation that officers manning checkpoints identify wealthy travellers and allegedly pass information about them to kidnappers to facilitate their abduction.
The Force described the allegation as serious, unsubstantiated and damaging to the institution, while assuring that any evidence provided by the activist would be treated urgently and investigated thoroughly.
Reacting to the invitation, Otse said his lawyers were prepared to represent him and challenged the police to charge him to court if they believed he had committed an offence.
“So when I get to your office, you charge me to court. I can go to court on that same day. My lawyers are on ground,” he said.
The activist maintained his broader allegation that security agencies were contributing to insecurity in the country, naming the police, military, immigration and customs authorities.
“It is the police people that aid insecurity. It is the military men that benefit from insecurity. That’s why it can never stop,” he alleged.
Otse also questioned why banditry, terrorism and kidnapping remained widespread despite government spending on security.
“How much is your budget to battle insecurity? How much is your budget? Go and look at your budget and tell me why we still have bandits and terrorists kidnapping people,” he said.
He said he was prepared to face the police and military in court over his allegations and would continue to speak out on issues affecting the country.
“But like I said, why would I want to give you my evidence? I wouldn’t do that. Who would take you to court? You understand? When you’re ready, I’m ready. Face the love, don’t play,” he said.
Otse also criticised Nigerians who defended security agencies following his allegations, despite routinely complaining about police and military performance in tackling insecurity.
He said his comments were intended to hold public institutions accountable and insisted that he stood by his allegations.
“I’m proud of myself that right in their faces I said what I had to say and to tell them that the insecurity going on in Nigeria, it is aided by them. I stand by my words,” he said.
The activist, however, acknowledged the difficult working conditions faced by police officers and called for improved welfare as part of efforts to strengthen national security.
“There is no welfare for the Nigerian police. If you want Nigeria’s security to be tightened, you have to take care of our policemen. Take care of them,” he said.
Earlier allegations against police officer
Otse’s latest comments come weeks after he accused the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command, Moshood Jimoh, of corruption in connection with the investigation into a case involving businessman Ahmed Tajudeen Akanbi.
The police subsequently confirmed that Jimoh had been invited for questioning as part of an internal administrative review. The Force also invited Otse to substantiate his allegations.
According to the police, the criminal matter linked to the allegations was already before a court following advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
Otse said the police had taken several weeks to respond to his allegations against Jimoh but moved more quickly to issue a statement following his claims about checkpoint-related kidnappings.
He also alleged that he had released evidence relating to the earlier case, including claims of torture of suspects, but that the police did not initially respond until he released additional material.
Otse further repeated his controversial claim that politicians use cattle to launder money, arguing that Fulani herders were victims of political manipulation.
He concluded by reiterating his readiness to face the police and defend his allegations in court.
“For the police, I’m very, very ready for you guys. 100 per cent. I’m ready to show you that you people aid insecurity. You people aid banditry and terrorism in this country,” he said.
“Let’s meet in court. The evidence will be tendered there.”
